DTC IRL

In the 80s, QVC. In the 90s, Amazon. 2000s, Kickstarter. It seems each decade brings rise to a new way for shoppers to discover and purchase products. For the 2010s, it’s easy to make a case for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands owning that arena—with no signs of slowing down. Made famous by names like Warby Parker, Casper and Bonobos, DTC brands thrive in the digital environment many shoppers prefer these days.

While DTC is rooted in eCommerce, these brands are rethinking the retail model. Because mediums like SEO and social media make it easy to get in front of shoppers, these brands don’t need to go through a retail middleman and, as a result, can lower product costs dramatically. Where big-name brands essentially must embrace Amazon as a key part of their retail strategy, DTC brands now scorn the eCommerce giant. It would make sense to assume that these same DTC brands turn their noses at the traditional brick-and-mortar. But that’s not the case.

With some of the trendiest names in DTC opening up their own brick-and-mortar shops, it seems as though nothing will beat the age-old need to see or touch a product in real life. Brand-new startups, like Showfields—who calls itself the most interesting store in the world, are breathing new life into retail experience. With more and more DTC brands opening up shops, should we be on the lookout for curated retail experiences? We’ll just have to wait and see.

Contributed By: Susan Parsons, Senior Social Media Strategist, Integer Denver

Image Source: Unsplash